Na. I'm just too lazy to switch. JK. Right now I have no reason to upgrade.

I might roll back to that version only because my set looked great calibrated with that firmware. In the lastest one I read that some of the white balance settings and other stuff were changed in the service menu which would explain why my original calibrations don't seem to match up.

Gmoove, what's wrong with the factory movie settings on the A650. I only changed two things. Energy save to low and Amp to medium. Your settings seem so radical. I'll give them a try later tonight to see what you're talking about. Though, I should note that I have already updated my firmware.

I might roll back to that version only because my set looked great calibrated with that firmware. In the lastest one I read that some of the white balance settings and other stuff were changed in the service menu which would explain why my original calibrations don't seem to match up.

I am noticing the same thing! funny you mentioned that. I'll tell ya, I believe my whites were more cleaner looking in my original firmware which was even back farther than yours. Unfortunately I cant go back that far since that was the firmware with the shutoff issue. Looks like my whites have a slight tint of purple to them, not bad, but the rest of the colors seem good. Is there something I can adjust to get the whites back? Black level seems good.

the factory movie settings on the A650. I only changed two things. Energy save to low and Amp to medium.

For those with the latest firmware, that is what I recommend too -- try the default settings; contrast, brightness, and colors to my eye look right-on, only a slight red push on skin tones with OTA TV which is resolved with Flesh Tone -1 (however, this is not needed with HDMI sources). For HDMI, I also used Just Scan and xvYCC=on, and I increased Gamma for MGS4/PS3 so I don't have to use the night vision so much .

I will conduct an official calibration once I receive my HD Essentials Blu ray (tomorrow? I hope?) but until then, default Movie looks good.

I am noticing the same thing! funny you mentioned that. I'll tell ya, I believe my whites were more cleaner looking in my original firmware which was even back farther than yours. Unfortunately I cant go back that far since that was the firmware with the shutoff issue. Looks like my whites have a slight tint of purple to them, not bad, but the rest of the colors seem good. Is there something I can adjust to get the whites back? Black level seems good.

What color temp are you using? I'm using Warm 2 and never noticed purple whites.

For those with the latest firmware, that is what I recommend too -- try the default settings; contrast, brightness, and colors to my eye look right-on, only a slight red push on skin tones with OTA TV which is resolved with Flesh Tone -1 (however, this is not needed with HDMI sources). For HDMI, I also used Just Scan and xvYCC=on, and I increased Gamma for MGS4/PS3 so I don't have to use the night vision so much .

I will conduct an official calibration once I receive my HD Essentials Blu ray (tomorrow? I hope?) but until then, default Movie looks good.

I'm also playing MGS4 on it and I found the previous pages setting to be pretty good. Although I use the default movie mode with medium amp for Blu-rays.

Well... I'd argue that something that isn't copyrighted that is posted in a public place... is just that, non-copyrighted :P

Actually, it could be considered as derivative work, which is automatically copyrighted. Same like your post, you own the rights to it, no one else does unless specified in AVS Forum policy which even that can be successfully argued. The work doesn't need to be registered in the Copyright Office either for it to be enforced. The above is applicable if the work hasn't been listed in the Public Domain which differs from posting in a "public place" or if the author has given permission. Haha, take that Perry Mason!

Although I wasn't finished with the calibration I was having fun with you. I just updated post #555 and changed the #2 calibration name to: Naturally Toned Down.

Gmoove, what's wrong with the factory movie settings on the A650. I only changed two things. Energy save to low and Amp to medium. Your settings seem so radical. I'll give them a try later tonight to see what you're talking about. Though, I should note that I have already updated my firmware.

I know. Soon I'll have to admit myself to CA (Calibrators Anonymous).

Personally, the Movie modes gave my TV the warmest colors but it felt as I was looking through a thin piece of film, brightness was too high for me, colors were somewhat in-your-face. I wanted something toned down.

Last night I was playing around with the SMPTE Color Bar pattern. I didn't have colored filtered glasses so I trusted my eyes. I don't know if it's accurate, I just thought of throwing it out there and see what people thought. I'm somewhat satisfied with the blacks; I've made the least amount of changes in that area. The updated calibration "Naturally Toned Down" is up right here.

Personally, the Movie modes gave my TV the warmest colors but it felt as I was looking through a thin piece of film,

I think I know what you are talking about -- I used to get "like looking through a veil" haze before I updated to the latest firmware; at the time, cnet's settings resolved that issue for me, but cnet's settings don't work for me any more.

What color temp are you using? I'm using Warm 2 and never noticed purple whites.

I'm using normal on the color temp. I only notice this on certain channels using OTA Hd. Not going through any cable box so my Warm 1 and Warm 2 are grayed out. The whites are not purple, just a slight tint

For those with the latest firmware, that is what I recommend too -- try the default settings; contrast, brightness, and colors to my eye look right-on, only a slight red push on skin tones with OTA TV which is resolved with Flesh Tone -1 (however, this is not needed with HDMI sources). For HDMI, I also used Just Scan and xvYCC=on, and I increased Gamma for MGS4/PS3 so I don't have to use the night vision so much .

I will conduct an official calibration once I receive my HD Essentials Blu ray (tomorrow? I hope?) but until then, default Movie looks good.

My set was manufactured in June 08 and my FW version is 1004.2. I would assume this IS the most recent firmware version? I am no videophile but this thing is pretty clean with default settings. Of course I had to tone down backlight and sharpness, along with some of the other processing features like DNIe and edge enhncement stuff. Speaking strictly of the color, white and black levels, this thing pretty much sings just the way it is. I have tried adjusting color and gamma and flesh tones a couple times but each time I reset the picture and liked what I saw much better after the reset.

I'm using normal on the color temp. I only notice this on certain channels using OTA Hd. Not going through any cable box so my Warm 1 and Warm 2 are grayed out. The whites are not purple, just a slight tint

My set was manufactured in June 08 and my FW version is 1004.2. I would assume this IS the most recent firmware version? I am no videophile but this thing is pretty clean with default settings. Of course I had to tone down backlight and sharpness, along with some of the other processing features like DNIe and edge enhncement stuff. Speaking strictly of the color, white and black levels, this thing pretty much sings just the way it is. I have tried adjusting color and gamma and flesh tones a couple times but each time I reset the picture and liked what I saw much better after the reset.

The latest firmware is actually 2001.3. You can find it by clicking here.

Just wanted to get your guys' take on my clouding issue...any opinions would be helpful. Here is my OP:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Test123455

Can anyone tell me if my clouding is bad enough to warrant a return? These pictures are from a totally dark room, and i couldnt really get any good perfect ones because of the darkness, but i think they illustrate my flashlighting well.

I am not typically bothered by flashlighting, just curious if i should return or not (have a couple weeks left):

they go in order from 0,3,5,7,10 backlight respectively. Sorry for the image quality. Also, it seems odd that when watching i usually see the top left corner as the worse, these images show otherwise (guess its just the outline that is made).

Here is an update:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Test123455

Here is the "worse" (lol) picture i could find out of the few i took...it's set to dynamic mode with backlight 10. I took it with ISO 800 and no flash, if i recall correctly. Any opinions on whether i should return or not? I have a few more days.

Will i ever be able to get one that is perfect, or at least better than that? Is it even worth trying? I wish i could find a pic of a really bad one.

+ Options that aren't listed are set at their original settings.
++ I may expand on the Color Space. Right now it's nearly identical to Auto with red and blue toned down ever so slightly. Yellow is more rich.

Just wanted to get your guys' take on my clouding issue...any opinions would be helpful. Here is my OP:

Here is an update:

Thanks a ton for your help.

Please quit posting this over and over. Several have given you their opinion. Does the clouding bother you when you are watching a program? If not keep the set. It's not a hard decision and only you can make it.

Hi, I have the 46A650. Tried calibrating the unit w/ DVE. However after 3 weeks of use, I still am having eye strain or fatigue and sometimes headaches after watching TV (HD or SD). My viewing distance is about 7 feet. Tried lowering the backlight to about 1-2 still I'm having this problem. I had my 27" CRT though w/c was fine with me. Do you think that's the screen is too large with my setup and my eyes? I also see and feel that my TV's kind of flickery. Does Plasma do a better job with regards to eye strain or fatigue?

Hi, I have the 46A650. Tried calibrating the unit w/ DVE. However after 3 weeks of use, I still am having eye strain or fatigue and sometimes headaches after watching TV (HD or SD). My viewing distance is about 7 feet. Tried lowering the backlight to about 1-2 still I'm having this problem. I had my 27" CRT though w/c was fine with me. Do you think that's the screen is too large with my setup and my eyes? I also see and feel that my TV's kind of flickery. Does Plasma do a better job with regards to eye strain or fatigue?

Thanks.

46A650 (2001.3 Firmware)

Get some bias lighting, it will eliminate your eye fatigue and also make your blacks blacker.